Film processing apparatus



April 4, 1939. H. B. KLINE 2,153,376

FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS Fi1ed Nov. 1, 1937 5 sheets-sheet 1 y HAYDEN BKLINE Gttorneg 'April,4, 1939- .HBKLIN 2,153,376

FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS HAYDEN B. Kum

Qttomeg April 4, 1939. H` B. KLINE 2,153,376

FILM PROCESSING APARATS Filed Nov. 1, 1937 5 sheetsi-sheet s HAYDEN B. KLINE attorney llatented Apr. 4,1939 i l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE",

-FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS Hayden B. Kline, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Delaware Application November l, 1937, `Serial No. 172,140 s claims.y '(01. er1-2.3)

.'-This invention relates to apparatus for the on the positive film I0. The printing device I2 continuous processing of motion picture film. is carried on an larm I 6 which projects from a Heretofore, the processing of motion picture lchannel 20 extending lengthwise of the machine iilm has been dlflcult because of the long lengths as a whole.

of film which must be handled. Attempts to cut From printing device I2, the positive film I0 5 the film into short lengths .capable of being travels to an obliquely disposed reel i1 upon handled as units in small tanks have not been which it is subjected to a developing treatment. satisfactory because the different lengths are in- The reel here shown operates on the same genevtably processed under .different conditions. eral principle as the reel disclosed in British 10 Efforts at processing the iilm While in continuous Patent No, 413,414, which corresponds to a do- 10 motion have not been successful because of inmestic application of Walter F. Knebusch, Serial herent defects in the apparatus employed, 'such 'No. 652,089, filed January 16, 1933, fOr Winding as a tendency to place an uneven tension upon reel. Broadly speaking, such a reel consists of the lm. Inasmuch as motion picture film when two interdigitating sets of rigidly mounted bar wet is highly fragile and may 'be scratched easily, members the axes oi which are disposed in offset 15 such prior apparatus often has caused damage and inclined relation. Preferably, the axis ofthe to the film. one set of bar members lies within the periphery In the apparatus of the present invention, the of the other set of bar members so that the bar motion picture film is handled upon devices members alternate and the device as a whole is of which do not subject it to excessive stress and as unitary construction. Due to the offset and in- 20 a result film breakage is minimized. Furtherclined relation of the sets of bar members, the more, due to the construction and arrangement film is advancedalollg thc reel in e Selles 0f of the film-handling devices of the present inclosely spaced, generally helical turns.

' vention, the emulsion `is at all timesprotected Developing llld iS delivered from any Suitable 5 from contact with the machine so that scratchingA SOllrCe t0 lel l? thlllgh distlfblllOl l9 and 1S 25 of the emulsion is made impossible. Other addischarged along the reel by openings formed vantages of the invention will ln part be obvious in the portion of the distributor immediately and will in part be pointed out vhereinafter as above the reel. To collect the developing iiudd as the description of tli invention proceeds. it runsl off the reel Il, a casing 2i is provided 0 In the accompanying drawings, illustrating partly surrounding the rcel. such casing being 30 several embodiments of the invention, Figure r1 carried upon arm I8 projecting from Channel 32 is a plan showing the film processing apparatus extending lengthwise 0f the machine- CSlllG 2| of the present invention as employed in conluncis prvided With a vertical Slot 22 for the 122188886 tion with a motion picture printing device. Figof the film to the reel I1 and a vertical slot 23 ure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Flgfor the passage of the lm from the reel. Fluid 35 ure 1. Figure 31s a front elevation of apparatus collected in the bottom of the casing 2l may be constructed in accordance with the invention for delivered through pipe 24 to a collecting tank for the processing of nlm by the reversal method,v possible re-use or, if desired, may be discarded. Figure 4 is a front elevation or apparatus for It is preferable that the reel I1 be supported processing motion picture iilm at a high rate only toward the rear thereof.I so that the front 4o of speed. Figure 5 is a section-cn the line 5-5 end may be free for easy access to the reel. This of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a section on the line facilitates inspection of the reel during operation 8 6 of Figure 4. thereof as, for example, to determine whether it Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 5, the posiis functioning properly: also, it facilitates enr tive nlm lo to be printed. and processed is connecessary manipulation of the film upon thc rcel. '45

tained upon a spool II carried by the 'printing For example, in initially threading up the reel device I2, the film being so wound ony spool II or in threading it up after breakage of .the nlm, that the emulsion side thereof is outside.- The access to the unsupported end of the reel ennegative film I3 is contained upon a spool I4 and, ables the operator to wind the film about the 5o after passing through the printing device I2', is reel in the helical conformation which the illm 50 collected upon spool i5. During the passage of assumes during normal operation oi the reel. the negative and positive lms through the print- The reel Il is preferably so rotated that the iilm ing device i2, the positive film is exposed through is advanced toward the unsupported end thereof, the negative film to a light source (not shown) 'The projecting shaft which drives reel I1 is in such manner that a latent image is formed housed within a bearing 25 which is secured by 55 tends substantially horizontally in the general direction of the operating face of the machine.

After development upon reel I1, the positive film I0 is passed to reel 33, upon which it is subjected to treatment by a photographic fixing fluid. 'I'he fixing fluid is distributed along reel 33 from openings in distributor 34, which is connected to a supply conduit II. Partially surrounding reel 33 is a casing 36 which collects the fixing uid and delivers it to discharge pipe 31. Casing 3l may be mounted upon an arm 4I projecting obliquely from the channel 2l. As shown in Figures 1 'and 2, reel 33 is parallel to reel I1.

' 'Ihe bearing 3l for the shaft of reel 33 is secured by clamp 30 to a .channel 4I extending lengthwise of the machine. To drive the shaft for reel 33, it is connected through gears 42 to a line shaft 43 carried by the frame of the apparatus. preferably directly below shaft 20. Une shaft 43 may be driven from line shaft II through sprocket and chain connection 44. InV order that reel 33 may be driven at the same angular speed as reel I1, it is desirable that shaft 43 be rotated at the same angular speed as shaft 2l.

'I'he printing device lI2 may conveniently be driven from line shaft 43, the connection being established through intermediate shaft 4I. Gears 41 connect the shafts 4I and 4I together, while gears 4I connect shafts 43 and 4I together. Since the printing device I2 and reels I1 and 33'are connected together in this manner and receive their motive power from the common motor 3l, they handle the film at a predetermined constant speed. By handling the illm at a substantially constant speed, any unintentional stretching of thde between successive reels may balargely avo e From reel 33 the positive film III passes'to reel III. Distributor II, which is above reel II, is con-l nected to conduit 3I, so that additional fixing fluid may be delivered to reel Il. The fixing fluid, after leaving reel I0, is collected in casing I2 from which it is conducted by a pipe I3 communicating with pipe 31. Reel II is supported upon channel 21 and is driven from line shaft 20. Casing I2 is supported from channel 32 similarly to casing- .cessively over reels I4, II and II. Reels I4 and II are carried upon longitudinal channel 4I and are driven from line shaft 43. Reel II is carried upon channel 21 and is driven from line shaft 2l. Upon the reels I4, II and II, the nlm is subjected to a washing treatment by clear water showered from distributors I1, II and Il, which, as shown, are connected to a common conduit II. Pipes II, I2 and I3 leading from the separate casinss for the reels are joined and serve to conduct the contaminated water from the reels. 'Ihe use of three reels to wash the nlm is desirable to insure complete washing of the lfilm and removal of all of the soluble salts which tend to remain upon the film after the fixing treatment.

After leaving reel II, the positive illm II enters drying chamber I4 in which are disposed a plurality of reels II, II, I1, II, and I9. Reels I5, I1 and Il are carried upon channel 21 and are driven from shaft 23, whereas reels II and I8 are carried upon channel 4Ii and are driven from shaft 43. Heated air or other drying medium is supplied to the drying chamber I4 through conduit 1I and leaves the chamber through conduit 12. To direct the passage of the drying medium through the drying chamber in such manner that it comes in more complete contact with the reels, partitions 13 are provided. A hinged glass closure `14 makes it possible completely to enclose the several drying reels.

From the drying chamber the positive film IIl passes to and is collected upon a take-up spool 15. 'Ihe bearing for spool 1I is supported upon channel 4I and is driven from shaft 43. It is desirable that a suitable slip coupling of conventional type (not shown) be located between spool 1I and its drive shaft so that the spool 15 will beallowed to rotate at a progressively lower speed as the thread accumulates thereon. If desired, however, the angular speed of spool 1I may be progressively reduced by a variable transmission so as to cornpensate for its progressively increasing diameter.

In passing through the machine, the positive nlm lo changes slightly 1n 'lengm During its passage over reels I1, 33, I0, 54, II and 5I, upon which the film is subject to liquid processing treatments of various kinds, the film progressively increases in length due to the absorption of water, such increase in length amounting in all to approximately 4%. In passing through the drying chamber, the iEllm shrinks by about the same amount, so thatwhen collected upon reel 1I it has approximately its initial length.

To compensate for this increase in length of the film as it passes over the several reels on which liquid is applied to the film, these reels may be flared so that they increase in diameter toward their unsupported ends, the receiving end of each reel having approximately the same diameter as the discharge portion of the preceding reel. The drying reels should be tapered to decrease in diameter toward their unsupported ends so as to compensate for shrinkage of the nlm in the drying operation. The receiving end of each reel should, however, have the same diameter as the delivery Vend of the preceding reel.

It is preferable to compensate for the increase and decrease in the length of the nlm during its passage through 4the machine by modifying the shape of the reels in the manner above described. The same object may, however, be accomplished by utilizing reels of a uniform diameter which are rotated at progressively faster or slower speeds, as required for the particular reel. Inasmuch as the amount of increase or decrease in length upon each reel is relatively slight, the film may advance properly over each reel even though it is of approximately cylindrical shape, the change in length of the film being compensated for between successive reels. l

In first putting the apparatus into use, a leader strip is first threaded through the entire apparatus, this being most conveniently done with the machine at rest.

When it is desired to print'and process motion picture film, spool I4 of the desired negative is placed upon the printing device I2 in contact with the positive iilm Il from spool I I, the leading end of the positive film I8 being secured to the end of the leader strip upon reel I1. several processing liquids and the -drying medium may then be supplied to the apparatus and motor 38 started in operation. T he positive film is progressively printed; developed, fixed, washed and dried during the passage through the apparatus and, upon leaving reel 69, is severed yfrom the leader strip and secured to take-up spool 15.

After the negative has been fully printed, the leader strip originally used may be secured to the positive film |8 at the end thereof upon which printing was last performed, the apparatus being stopped when the leader strip appears at take-up spool 15. In this manner the apparatus will have threaded throughout its entire length a leader strip in readiness for subsequent use of the apparatus. If, however, continuous use of the apparatus is contemplated, the negative which is next to be printed may be secured thereto and the new spool of negative film may be placed upon the printing device. In like manner, it is possible to attach the leading end of anew spool of positive film to the terminal end of the preceding lm and to place the new spool of film upon the printing device, the separate positive films being collected upon different spools 15.

The illustrated arrangement of reels is advantageous in that the machine is shortened and the film passes from one reel to another without the employment of guiding means.

In general, the axes of the reels are disposed in two parallel planes, the successive reels to which the film passes being disposed alternately. The reels located in either one of the two rows so formed lie substantially midway between the adjacent reels of the other row. Because of this relationship and due to the disposition of the reels at an angle to the supporting frame of the apparatus, the discharge portion of each reel is in juxtaposition to the receiving portion of the next succeeding reel. Since 'the fllm may pass directly from one reel to the following reel Without being turned. it is not necessary to employ any guiding means, for which reasondamage to the film emulsion, which is always on the side of the film out of contact with the reels, is wholly obviated.

This general arrangement is followed in the apparatus of Figure 3, in which is illustrated a machine adapted to perform a reversal process upon motion picture film. In this apparatus,

.the exposed motion picture film is contained upon spool 88.' From spool 88 the exposedy film passes to ,a reel 8| which is similar to the reels employed in the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 5. Developing uid is supplied to reel 8| through openings in distributor 82. Used developing fluid isyk collected by casing 83, from which it is discharged through pipe 84.

Upon reel 85, to which the exposed-film next passes, it is subjected/'to the action of a washing Vfluid delivered through distributor 85. The washing treatment serves to remove allof the soluble silver salts from the film. Inasmuch as the time required to remove such salts is approximately the same as that required for the development of the film, ya single reel 85 ordinarily is adequate for washing purposes. The spent washing fiuid collected in the casing surrounding the reel is carried ofi by means of pipe 81.

The exposed film is next delivered to reel 88, upon which it is subjected to the action of a bleaching solution delivered from distributor 88.

The'

From reel 88, the film passes to reel 82 upon which it receives a clearing bath delivered from distributor 83. The film is next washed upon reel 85, to which washing fluid is delivered through distributor 8B. The spent processing media used upon these several reels are removed by pipes 88, 94 and 81, respectively.

From reel 85 the -film passes to reel 98 to receive its second or flash exposure. Reel 88 is surrounded by a container 88 which fully encloses the reel with the exception of the openings for the 'ingress and egress of the film. 'I'he lower portion of the container extends downward to provide room for-an electric light or other source of illumination loo. n isdesirable that the light |08 be located a moderate distance away from the reel in order that more nearly uniform illuminalon of the reel as a whole may be had. The intensity of the light may be varied as in known practice in accordance with the printing characteristics of the film being handled upon the reel 88.

Upon reel |82, to which the exposed fllm next passes, the film is subjected to a developing fluid supplied through distributor E83 and carried off by pipe |84. The film then passes successively to reels |85 and |86, upon each of which a fixing solution supplied through distributors |81 and |88 is showered upon-the film; Discharge pipes |88 and ||8 are joined for delivery of the spent xing solution. In view lof the necessity of washing the film, it is next passed successively over reels ||2, H3 and ||4,respectively receiving washing fluid from pipes H5, ||6 and ||1 and discharging it through discharge pipes ||8,

HSI and |28.

After the washing treatment, the film passes into drying chamber |2`| within which are located reels |22, |28, |24, |25/and |28. To dry the film during its passage over 'such reels, a heating medium such as hot air is` supplied to the chamber by conduit |21 and removed therefromthrough conduit |28 at the other end thereof. To insure contact of the drying medium with all of the reels in the drying chamber, ballles |28 are located between the several reels. A closure memberl |38 hinged to the chamber |2| toward the c top thereof is provided to close the front of the chamber.

Inasmuch as the film upon issuing from the.

k apparatus is completely collected upon the first spool Ill; y

Since the supports for the several reels and casings illustrated in the apparatus of Figure 3 are similar to those employed in the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1', 2 and 5, the supports need not be described in detail. The means for rotating the several reels and the spool III aresimilar to those illustrated in Figures i. 2 and 5.

As in the apparatus of Figures i, 2 and 5, the arrangement of the reels in the machine oi' Figure 3 is.in two parallel rows, a given reel in one row being located midwaylbetween two reels inthe other row. Because of the large number of reels requiredto carry out the reversal method of proceasing moving picture film, this disposition ot the reels results in a short overall length of the apparatus.

To compensate for the increase and subsequent decrease in the length of the lm the reels may be flared or tapered, as required, or they may be rotated at different rates of speed as described in connection with Figures l, 2 and 5.

Commercial practice frequently requires that the film be processed at a relatively high rate of speed. This is especially true of negative film,

the handling of which is not delayed by the time required for printing.. Accordingly, it is possible in the processing of negative film vto handle the nlm as rapidly as the'limitations of the equipment will permit. Figures 4 and 6 illustrates an arrangement which will treat the film as rapidly as desired.

In this apparatus, an increased number of reels over that illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 5 is provided for each individual processing step. For development, film from the spool ill is first passed successively over the four reels ila, lllib, lllc and Ild. Developing fluid is showered upon the reels Illia, llilb, Ilc and |4|Id from the several distributors |42 connected to a common conduit |43. To collect the spent developing fluid. the reels are partially enclosed by a casing I to which is connected a waste pipe |45.

From the lastof the reels Ild, the film passes successively over eight reels Illa, b, c, d, e, l, g, and h to which a suitable fixing liquid is supplied by distributors III connected to a supply conduit |45 and from which it is removed by waste pipe communicating with upper and lower casings |5|.

In passing from the last developing reel Mild to the first fixing reel Illa, the film travels downward in a straight line due to the location of the receiving portion of fixing reel Il'la directly below the discharge portion of developing reel Mild. In proceeding from the fourth fixing reel Mld to the fifth fixing reel Ille, the film is guided by rollers |53. These rollers conduct the film to the rear from a point directly below the discharge portion of reel Mld to a point directly above the receiving portion of the reel Ille. It is important'that the rollers |53 be so disposed as to protect the emulsion side of the film from contact with the rollers.

From the last .fixing reel Il'ih, the film passes to the twelve wash reels Illa, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, 1. k and l. Washing fluid is supplied to these reels through distributors .I connected to conduit 5 5. 'I'he washing fluid, after leaving each reel, is carried ofi' by acommon conduit |51. In passing from wash reel |54d to wash reel |54e, rollers |53 are necessary to guide the film. However, in passing from washreel |5411 to wash reel I5, the film may makes-direct passage from one reel to the other.

After leaving the last wash reel, the film enters drying chamber |55 in which are contained eighteen drying reels I5la to |591', inclusive. In the arrangement shown, there are six such reels in each of the three rows. Hot air or other drying medium is supplied to the drying chamber through conduit and is removed from theI drying chamber through conduit IBI. In passing from drying reel |59f to drying reel |55p, no guide means are required since the film may make a direct passage. Guide rollers |53 are, however. required to conduct the film from dry'- lng reel |531 to drying reel |58m.

The apparatus disclosed in For collecting the dried film, spool |32 is provided immediately outside the drying chamber.

'I'he several reels disposed in the uppermost row are supported upon a longitudinally extending channel member I, these reels being driven from line shaft |55. The intermediate row of reels is supported upon channel member I 53; these reels are driven from line shaft |61. The lowermost row of reels is carried upon channel |68 and is driven from line shaft |68. All reels in the same row are inclined in the same direction, the reels in the intermediate row slanting in a direction opposite to that of the reels in the uppermost and lowermost rows.

Becauseof the large number of reels provided for the performance of each processing step, the film may pass through the apparatus at a relatively high rate. For example, if the reels illustrated in Figures 4 and 6 are of the same size as the reels illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 5, the apparatus' of Figures 4 and 6 may hafl'dl tlie film four times as fast as the apparatus in Figures 1, 2 and 5. It is possible to obtain a still greater increase in the rate of handling by iurther increasing the number of reels upon which each of the several processing steps is performed. It is only necessary that the relative number of reels for each processing step be present in substantially the ratio illustrated in Figures 4 and 6.

The invention contemplates that departures -may be made from the arrangements illustrated in the drawings. For example, a feature illustrated in one embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in or substituted for a corresponding feature of one of the other embodiments.

For instance, instead of reversing film in an apparatus similar to that illustrated in Figure 3, it is possible to arrange the reels in the manner illustrated in Figures 4 and 6 and to increase their number so that the reversing process may be carried on at an increased speed. Although the film processing steps herein disclosed are the ones necessary for the development and fixation of a silver image in a film, the several forms of apparatus disclosed, or suitable modifications of them, may be utilized to carry out the usual processes for the formation of color images in a film: Instead of the developing solution ordinarily employed, a coupler-developer may be utilized to l A same angular direction on each of which, in response to rotation of the helix-forming device, the llmis automatically advanced in an otherwise unguided helical path the pitch of which is sufliclent in and of itself to prevent the yoverlapping of adjacent turns of film, alternate ones of the several helix-forming devices going to make up such series being disposed with their axes in the same horizontal plane.

2. Apparatus for handling photographic film during processing comprising a concatenate series oi' unitary helix-forming devices on each of which, in response to rotation of the helix-forming device, the film is automatically advanced in van otherwise unguided helical path the pitch of which is suiilcient in and of4 itself to prevent l device. 1

the overlapping of adjacent turns of illm, the illin tangentiallv from the nlm-discharging end of each of the several helix-forming devices going to make up suchseries to the nlmreceiving end of the ,succeeding helix-forming '3. Apparatus for photographic during processing comprising a concatenate series Vns devices going to make up such series being in apposition to the hlm-receiving end of the succeeding helix-forming device.

`,so 4. Apparams for handling photographic nim dining p comprising a concatenate series of-unitary helix-forming devices on each of which, in response to rotation of the helixforming device, the nlm is automaticallyadvanced in an otherwise unguided helical path the pitch of which is sumclent in and'oi itself to prevent 'the overlapping ofadjacent turns of film, the

several helix-forming devices going to make up such series being disposed with their axes parallel to each other.

5. Apparatus for handling photographic illm during processing comprising a concatenate series oi' unitary helix-forming devices rotated 'in` the same angular direction, on each of which, in response to rotation oi the helix-forming device, the iilm is automatically advanced inan lothermguided helical path the pitch of which lapxing of adjacent turns of nlm, the film followin an otherwise unguided helical path the pitch 4ing device, the film is automatically advanced in an otherwise ungui'ded helical path the pitch.

of which is sumcient in and'of itself'to prevent ltomake-upsuchseries. lisniiiicientinandoilitseli!topreventtheoversuch series.

6. npparsms mr handling. photographic nim f during processing comprising a concatenate series 5 of unitary helix-forming devices on each oi which, in response to rotation of the helix-forming device, the iilmis automatically advanced inan Votherwise unguided helical path the pitch 'of which is sumcient in and of itself to prevent the overlapping of adjacent turns of nlm, alternatel ones of the several helix-forming devices going tomakeupsuchseriesbeingdisposedwiththelr axes in the same horizontal plane.

'1. Apparatus for handling photographic nlm during processing comprising a concatenate se'- ries of unitary helix-forming devices on each of which, in response to rotation of the helix-forming device, the lm is automatically advanced of which is sufiicient in and of itself to prevent the overlapping of adjacent'turns of nlm, the film-discharging end of each of the several helix- .forming` devices going to make up such series being in apposition to the nlm-receiving end of the succeeding helix-forming device.

during processing comprising a concatenate series of unitary helix-forming devices on each of.

which. in response to rotation of the helix-formtheoverlapping o! adjacent turns of nlm, the

nlm following a staggered course in p 3'5 through the various helix-forming devices going Barnim 3.1mm.

s Aingastaggeredcourseinpgthri'mghthe various helix-forming devices going to make up 8. Apparatus for handling photographic film 

